UFA, Russia -- About 500 pensioners in Bashkortostan's capital, Ufa, blocked a major street in the city, protesting local government's decision to repeal the right of elderly people to use public transportation for free, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Bashkortostan's government decided to annul all the benefits it introduced for some social groups four years ago as of September 1.

The mayor of Ufa and the republic's prime minister, Rail Sarbayev, met with the protesters on August 27 and promised them that all the federal benefits will be preserved.